Abstract:

This work was conducted to study how graphene materials could be used in surface coatings and what benefits could be obtained.

Functional coatings have become increasingly important in the recent years, and the search is always on for novel methods to increase film properties, such as corrosion resistance. Graphene is a raw-material with remarkable electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties. Thus, it has gathered the attention of researchers for over a decade in areas such as semiconductors, battery materials, composites, and surface coatings. Graphene materials have been incorporated to various coatings in publications, usually with success. However, the incorporation of graphene to a coating contains many hurdles, such as the quality and stability of the dispersion.

The literature part of this work is divided into three parts: First part introduces the common chemistry and terminology involved in paints. Second part is focused on inorganic resins and their chemistry. Finally, third part addresses graphene materials, their synthesis and what properties could be gained by incorporating them to surface coatings.

Ten different graphene material samples were tested in a commercial water-borne acrylic single component paint with varying mass concentrations between 0.2 - 2.0 wt%. A restricted series of tests were also conducted on a graphene modified epoxy system. The effect of graphene on the film properties was tested with pendulum hardness, pull-off, and cross-cut tests. The anticorrosive properties were tested with neutral salt spray, water condensation, and water immersion tests. Finally, the mechanical properties of the coatings were studied with the aid of Erichsen cupping, impact resistance, and tensile strength test.

The experiments conducted during this test were successful in distinguishing different advantages obtained with different samples. Four samples for increased anticorrosive properties, and one sample with significantly improved mechanical properties were identified. However, the optimum concentration for these samples could not be established.Tässä työssä selvitettiin millä tavalla grafeenia voi käyttää pinnoitteissa ja mitä etuja sillä voidaan saavuttaa.